Liquid-feeding device



A. STUBER.

LlQUli) FEEDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14. 1912.

1 ,357, 3-6 1 Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHKET 2.

2a 7 minim-1mm INVENTOR Ma am ,1 I M RNEKS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH STUBER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

LIQUID-FEEDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

Application filed February 14, 1917. Serial No. 148,497.

-to the accompanying drawings, fOImll'Lfl part of this specification, and to the refer ence characters marked thereon.

My invention relates to a liquid feeding and registering device similar in purpose to ,that disclosed in my copending application,

Serial No. 136,879, filed December 14, 1916. and has for its object to provide improved means for transferring liquid from one point to another in predetermined quantities. the operation of the registering mechanism and transfer of the liquid being eflected by any suitable suction producing means adapt ed to be connected with said device. A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for elevating liquid fuel to a point from which it may be fed by grew ity to the intake of the cylinders of an e.\' plosive motor, during which time said fuel is transferred in predetermined quantities arranged to be registered by mechanism, the operation of which is effected by the suction created through the reciprocations of the pistons within the motor cylinders. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved pressure operated liquid feeding device in combination with means for recording the units of liquid passing therethrough, both of which are automatically operated upon a change of pressure in the device. To these. and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an outline view illustratimg one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the liquid feeding device showing the manner of connecting the recording mechanism therewith;

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view with the recording device omitted showing the float rcmo ved to substantially itslowermost position Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line (5-4 of Fig. 2, with the valve plate in position to discharge liquid from the measuring chamber;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the valve plate moved to position to admit-the entrance of l quid to the measuring chamber;

Fig. 6 is an enlar ed sectional elevation taken on line b-bo Fig. 8;

Fig. 7 is a.sectional elevation taken on line c-c of Fig. 6 the tank being show in elevation; I m

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line dd of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectionnl elevation through the liquid controlling valve, the section beingptaken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and I Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail edge view of the switch plate shown in Fig. 6.

Similar reference characters throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The present invention embodies a fuel feeding and recording device which is intended especially for use on automobiles and other motor driven vehicles where it is desired to transfer the liquid fuel from a supply tank to the engine or motor of the vehicle and at the same time, record the units of fuel consumed by the engine In carrying out this idea I have provided what may be termed a measuring or liquid receiving chamber to which the fuel is elevated by suction produced by the reciprocat'ions of the pistons in the moto'r cylinders orby any other suitable aspirator and from which said fuel is discharged into a float chamber provided with a float for effecting the operation of movable means for controlling the aspirator and at the same time, alternately admitting and discharging the liquid fuel to and from the measuring chamber; a recording mechanism being connected with the latter, the operation of which is effected by a change of pressure produced in said measuring chamber when the movable means is actuated.

The apparatus foraccomplishing this result comprises preferably an electrically op erated valve or movable member located between the measuring and float chambers, which when moved to one position will open the inlet passageway for supplying fuel to the measuring chamber and at the same time, establish communication between said chamber and aspirator, comprising in the present instance the cylinders of the engine to the measuring or receiving chamber of the device; These cha'mbers are divided by the partition 4 through which is extended"a' sleeve ,5 which projects through the upper headG'oFtlie' container to reeeive'the nu't7. A flange 8 is formed upon the lowerendof the sleeve-in position to e age the bottom of the par ition to form' a liquid ti ht oint between 't e upper and lower charribers A float 9isn1ounted-in tlielower chamber and is provided with a rod 10 whiclrjs extended through the sleeve 5, a link 1'1 bemg';p1votally connectedwith the upper end'oft-he-rnd as shown inFigs; 2'and'3f The linkrll is also pivotally connected with a lever 12' which is rigidly connected with a shait'13, the oppositeends of which are journaled in the side walls of the switch box: 14mountcd upon the head'fi of the measuringtanlr'gsaid' lever arm being preferably positioned'outside of the switch box as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Mounted upon the shaft 13 is a segmental o'ontact late 15 provided with a shoulder 16 whicli. is arranged when the float reaches its lowermost position to more into on agement with the upper contact pin 17'insu atedfromand carriedby the screw pluqlSextending through oneofthe walls ofithe switch box-as shown in Fig. 7. A second insulatedcontact pin orpost'19'is projected into the switch box through the screw lug 20 as shown, andlies in the path of the ower arm of a contact lever 21 rotatabl Y mounted upon a shaft 22, the opposite-en s of which are supported by the walls of'the switch-box. The upper end of'th'e contact lever 21 is held in frictional eng ement with the-frontface of the contact plate 15 by means of a spring 23 on the shaft 22, the spring being inter osed between the,- lever and the front wal of the switch box as shown in Fig, 7. A thimble 24 is loosely mountedupon the shaft 22 between the rear wall of the switch box and the lever 21 and serves to limit the movement of the lever in the direetioncf'the contact plate 15.

A stop pin 25 is positioned at the rear of the lower arm of the contact lever 21 to limit its movement in one direction as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, while a spring26 normally holds said lever out of engagement resents a tank or with the contact member 19. However, movement of the float downwardly from the ,osition shown in Fi 2 will, through the iictioual contact of the lever with the con taot plate li-cause said lever to he thrown into engagement with the contact member 19 where it will remain until the float descends substantiall' to its lowermost positionas'shown inig. 2, at which time the upper end of the lever 21 will more into the recess 2? and hence out of"contact with the plate 15, as said recess is of a sufhcient depth to clear the lever when the same is in this osition. It will be understood that said ever is limited in its sliding movement-u on the shaft 22 under the action of'the s ring 23 toward-the contact plate by the striking of the thimble-24 a ainst the mar wall'of the switch box 14. lVlieni the float reaches its'extrer'ne lowermost: position the shoulder 16 on the plate 15' will move into engage ment'with'the contact member 17'andas the float rises'tlie segmental plate 15 will be moved back to the positionshown in Fig. 2, during which time the upper end of the lever 21 will'move out of the recess 27' over the incline 28 and the lower end will'be held out ofen agement with the contact pin 19 intil the direction of movement of the segmcntalplate is reversed by downward movement of the arm 12 when actuated by the (hint 9. Thus it will be seen that the upper switch contacts are closed when the float reaches its lowermost position and that the lower switch contacts are closed when the float begins to descend from its uppermost position.

I will now describe the construction and operation of the electrically actuated valve or movable member, which opens and closes the pasageways for admitting the liquid to the measuring chamber 2 and for discharging it therefrom into the float chamber 3 and which also opens andcloses the suction passageway leading tothe engine cylinders.

his valve comprisesa'lower stationary disk or plate 29. seated upon the partition 4 be tween the upper andlower chambers land 3 respectively. Upon the lower plate 29 is rotatably mounteda valve plate 30 which is held in frictional contact with the lower plate bymeans of a spring 31, the upper end of which is seated upon the bottom of the partition 4, while the lower end is seated upon the head of the bolt 32'which passes through and is journaled in the lower valve plate, said bolt being connected with the upper valve )late whereby upon rotation of the same the oltwill'rotatealso. The lower plate is provided'with an aperture or port 33 registering, with an aperture in the partition wall 4 and communicating with said last mentionedaperture is a conduit 34: extending through the-wall of the float chamher 3, said conduit being adapted to communicate with a liquid supply source such as the fuel supply tank 35 shown in Fig. 1.

The rotary valve plate 30 is provided with an inlet aperture 36 which when the plate is in the position shown in Fig. 5, will register with the aperture 33 in the lower valve plate 29 through which the liquid is drawn by suction into the measuring chamber from the conduit 34. The bottom plate 29 is also provided preferably with a plurality of outlet apertures or openings 37 which are closed by the upper valve plate when the aperture 36 registers with the aperture 33 and which communicate with corresponding openings in the partition wall 4. The upper valve plate is also provided with a plurality of apertures 38 which register with the apertures 37 when the aperture '33 is closed or when said upper plate is in the position shown in Fig. 4. Thus it will be seen that when the inlet aperture to the measuring chamber 2 is open, the outlet apertures leading to the float chamber will be closed and vice versa. Movement of the rotary valve plate 30 in opposite directions is limited by the stop pin 39 projecting upwardly from the valve plate 29 in the recess 40 formed in said movable plate, whereby the inlet and outlet openings in said valve plates are made to register with each other at the proper time.

Rotation of the valve plate 30 in opposite directions is effected by the magnets 41 and 42 which are provided with spaced cores 43 and 44 respectively, projected preferably into the measurin chamber 2 in proximity to the outer perip cry of said rotary valve plate which is provided with an insert or bar of magnetic material indicated at 45, whereby the magnets upon being alternately energized will cause rotation of the valve plate in opposite directions.

The switch already described will alternately cause the energization of said magnets by opening and closing the divided circuit in which the magnets are placed, current for which is supplied by the battery 46. lVith the shoulder 16 in engagement with the contact member 17 current will flow from the battery through conductor 47, magnet 41, conductor 48, contact 17, segment 15, casing 14 and conductor 49 back to battery, at which time the movable plate 30 will be rotated from the osition shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in *ig. 4, to allow the unit of fuel in the measuring chamber to be discharged into the float chamber, whereby the float is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 2. Downward movement of the float from this position will effect engagement of the lower arm of the contact lever 21 with the contact member 19 and when this is done current will flow from battery through conductors '47 and 50, magnet 42, conductor 51, contact member 19,

lever 21, segment 15, switch box casing 14 and conductor 49 back to battery, thereby energizing said magnet 42 to move the plate 30 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, which will close the float chamber and open the passageway leading from the supply pipe 34 to the measuring chamber.

Liquid in the float chamber is held under atmospheric pressure by air admitted through the sleeve 5 around the float rod 10 and is discharged therefrom through the conduit 52 leading to the carbureter 53 for supplying fuel to the engine 54.

Inproviding means for producing suction in the measuring chamber to transfer the fuel thereto from the supply tank 35 1 preferably employ the liquid controlling valve for establishing communication between the manifold 55 of the engine and said measuring chamber at the time that the latter is in communication with said supply tank, the valve being so constructed as to automatically close both the air and liquid inlet passageways leading to the measuring chamber when communication 1s established between the latter and the float chamber. This is done by forming on the bottom of the movable valve plate 30 an elongated recess 56 at one side of the plate which when in the position shown in Fig. 5. establishes communication between the con duit 57 leading to the measuring chamber through the small container 58 and the conduit 59 leading to the manifold 55 of the engine by way of the ports 60 and 61 through the stationary valve plate 29, as shown in Fig. 9. \Vhen the valve plate 30 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 4 the suction or aspirator conduit 59 is closed by closing the port 61, at which time communication will be established between the vent pipe 62 and conduit 57 through the ports 60 and 63 and recess 56, whereby the liquid in the measuring chamber, which now begins to discharge into the float chamber through the outlet apertures 37 and 38. will be brought under atmospheric pressure. In order to prevent overflow of the measwring chamber into the suction or aspirator conduit 57 I provide in the chamber 64 ot the container 58 a small float 65 carrying a valve 66 which will close the port 67 in the container head 68 when liquid enters said chamber through the passage 69 as shown in Fig. 3.

The registering mechanism which may be of any suitable type, comprises in the present instance, the counter 70 and ratchetwheel 71 actuated by the pawl 72 pivotally connected with the piston rod 73 carrying the piston 74 mounted in the cylinder 75, as shown in Fig. 2. The cylinder is connected with the conduit 57 by means of a short conduit 76, so that when communication is established between the former and the conduit 59 leading to the engine manifold the suction produced in the cylinder will move the piston 74 against the action of the spring 75 until the pawl 72 moves into engagement with the next succeeding tooth of the ratchet wheel 71. The pawl will be held in this position by the piston until the conduit 59 is closed by the movable plate 30, shown in Fig. 4, at which time the spring 75 will force the piston back to the position shown in Fig. 2 and cause the pawl to actuate the ratchet wheel for the purpose of operating the counter. Thus it will be seen that the counter or registering member is operated each time the measuring chamber is filled and preferably at the time when the same begins to empty, or when the movable plate 30 is actuated from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 4.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a liquid feeding mechanism, the combination with a receptacle having an outlet leading therefrom, a liquid supply tank, conduit connecting said tank with said receptacle, means comprising a float controlled by liquid discharged through said outlet for alternately opening and closing said conduit and outlet, and an aspirator connected with said receptacle.

2. In a liquid feeding mechanism, the combination with a receptacle having an outlet leading therefrom, a liquid supply tank, a conduit connecting said tank with said receptacle, electrical means for alternately opening and closing said conduit and outlet, a float actuated by liquid dischar ed through said outlet for controlling said e ectrical means, and an aspirator connected with said receptacle.

3. In a liquid feeding mechanism, the combination of a pair of receptacles having a assage therebetween, a liquid supply tan r, a conduit connecting said tank and one of said receptacles, a float in the other of said receptacles, means actuated by said float for alternately opening and closing said passage and conduit, and an aspirator connected with the first mentioned receptacle.

4. In a liquid feeding mechanism, the combination of a pair of receptacles having a passage therebetween, a liquid supply tank. a conduit connecting said tank and one of said receptacles, a float in the other of said receptacles, solenoid means actuated by said float for alternately opening and closing said passage and conduit, and an aspirator connected with the first mentioned receptacle.

5. In a liquid feeding mechanism, the combination with a receptacle having an outlet leading therefrom, a liquid supply tank, a conduit connecting said tank with said receptacle, an aspirator, a conduit connecting said aspirator with said receptacle, a

valve for alternately opening and closing said outlet and said tank and aspirator conduits, and means for periodically actuating said valve.

3. In a liquid feeding mechanism, the combination with a measuring receptacle having an outlet leading therefrom, a liquid supply tank, a conduit connecting said tank with said measuring receptacle, an aspirator, a conduit connecting said aspirator with said receptacle, a valve for alternately opening and closing said outlet and said aspirator conduit, and solenoid means controlling the operation of said valve arranged to be actuated by the liquid measured. in said receptacle.

7. In a liquid feeding mechanism, the combination with a receptacle having an outlet leading therefrom, a liquid sup-ply tank, a conduit connecting said tank with said receptacle, an aspirator, a conduit connecting said aspirator with said receptacle, a valve for alternately opening and closing said outlet and said aspirator conduit, and electromechanical means for actuating said valve.

8. In a liquid feeding device, the combination with a receptacle having an outlet leading therefrom, an auxiliary receptacle adapted to communicate with the first mentioncil receptacle through said outlet, aliquid supply tank, a conduit connecting said tank with said first mentioned receptacle, an aspirator, a conduit leading from said first mentioned receptacle to said aspirator, a float in said auxiliary receptacle, a valve between said receptacles for alternately opening and closing said outlet and said aspirator conduit, and means controlled by the float for actuating said valve.

9. In a liquid feeding device, the combination with a receptacle having an outlet leading therefrom, an auxiliary receptacle adapted to communicate with the first mentioned receptacle through said outlet, a liquid supply tank, a conduit connecting said tank with said first mentioned receptacle, an aspirat or, a conduit leading from said aspirator to said first mentioned receptacle, a float in said auxiliary receptacle, a valve for alternately opening and closing said outlet and said aspirator conduit, and electromechanical means controlled by the float for actuating said valve.

10.'In a liquid feeding mechanism, the combination of a liquid measuring chamber, a float chamber, a source of liquid supply connected with said measuring chamber, pressure varying means connected with said measuring chamber, a connection between said measuring chamber and the atmosphere, a passage connecting said chambers, a float in the float chamber, valve means for opening and closing said pressure varying and atmospheric connections and said passage, and actuating means controlled by said float for alternately closing said atmos pheric connection and passage and opening said pressure varying connection, and opening said atmospheric connection and passage and closing said pressure varying connec tion.

11. In a liquid feeding mechanism, the combination of a receptacle having a partition forming an upper measuring chamber and a lower float chamber, a source of liquid supply connected with said measuring chamber, pressure varying means connected with said measuring chamber, an atmospheric vent for said measuring chamber, a passage between said chambers, a float in said float chamber, valve means comprising a disk on said partition controlling said pressure varying connection, vent and passage, and actuating connections between said float and valve means.

12. In a liquid feeding mechanism, the combination of an upper measuring chamber, a lower float chamber provided with a float, a source of liquid supply connected with the measuring chamber, an atmospheric rent for said measuring chamber, pressure varying means connected with said measuring chamber, a passage between said chambers, valve means for closing said vent and passage and opening said pressure varying connections and vice versa, solenoid means actuating said valve means, and electrical connections including a source of power having a pair of contacts actuated by said float in its upper and lower positions respectively for actuating said valve means.

ADOLPH STUBER. 

